Queen Anne News 1-18-2023

Queen Anne &Magnolia

DISCOVERING HER VOICE

Local woman travels to Olympia to help families in need

By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing writer

Queen Anne &Magnolia ne Queen olia

Last week, Tamara Sharabi traveled to Olympia to participate in the Advocacy Day for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, Washington state’s pre-kindergarten program for families furthest from educational justice. is was the rst time she had engaged with lawmakers like this, and she was surprised to discover how relatable they are.

Sharabi works as a tutor for Seattle Public Schools and her husband, Muthanna Algammaz, is a truck driver. ey rst learned about ECEAP when their daughter, Valentina, was diagnosed with autism when she was 2 ½ years old. ey had a lot to learn about their child’s diagnosis, and they read all of the resource papers that the doctors gave them.

rough their research, they heard about the Experimental

Education Unit at the University of Washington’s Haring Center for Inclusive Education and enrolled their daughter.

EEU is an ECEAP program

that o ers comprehensive preschool services for children both with and without disabilities and wraparound services for their families. Unfortunately, there are not enough programs

like this for families who need assistance, and teachers are frequently not paid a thriving wage.

SEE SHARABI, PAGE 7

District 36 legislators cap busy week with town hall

By Jessica Keller QA&Mag News editor

Washington State Legislature’s session began Jan. 9, and the three legislators from District 36 had a busy week that ended with a town hall meeting with a crowd of interested constituents Saturday in Ballard.

At the town hall, the three District 36 legislators, Rep. Liz Berry, Rep. Julia Reed and Sen. Noel Frame shared their priorities for this session, which ends April 23, and what they would like to see accomplished.

For Berry and Reed, it was their rst trip to Olympia and the Capitol Building as legislators. Reed is newly elected to the legislature, lling the seat Frame used to have. And although this is Berry’s second term, it is the rst where business is taking place in person in Olympia. Frame is in her seventh year as a legislator, her rst as a state senator. She replaced former Sen. Reuven Carlyle, who retired after his last term.

“It’s just so nice to be back in

[Olympia],” Frame said.

She said one thing she is already pleased about is the new format for the Legislature. In previous years, if legislators were sick or unable to attend for a day for whatever reason, they missed all action for the day and were unable to vote on legislation. is year, if legislators can’t attend in person, they can participate remotely, and their votes will be counted. Residents can also listen in or testify on legislation remotely, as well.

at is important for the District 36 legislators as each has a full slate this session with committee work and legislation they are either sponsoring or supporting.

Frame is serving as the vice chair of the Senate Housing Committee, the vice chair of the Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee and is a member of the Senate Human Services Committee.

She said all of her legislation will work toward her continued priorities as a legislator, creating economic prosperity for everyone; rebalancing the state tax code; and strengthening

community diversity.

While much of her legislation will focus on xing the regressive tax code that puts much of the burden on the poor and middle class, including a continued push for a wealth tax, she also has four bills focusing

on juvenile justice. One she feels especially strongly about is making clergy members mandatory reporters. Currently, they don’t have to report cases of abuse to law enforcement or any other agency.

“I think that is unconscionable,

and we really need to x that,” Frame said.

Berry is the chair for the Labor & Workplace Standards Committee and is assigned to the Environment

SEE LEGISLATURE, PAGE 4

Photo by Jessica Keller

District 36 Rep. Liz Berry, standing, speaks to the audience while Rep. Julia Reed, left, listens and Sen. Noel Frame smiles at the antics of George Berry, 6, at the town hall meeting the three District 36 legislators hosted in Ballard, Saturday.

Photo by Ewings photography

Parent Ambassadors, educators and parents from all over the state gathered to advocate for expanding Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program services and paying its teachers fairly.

Queen Anne & Magnolia Worship Services

at 10am

Twelfth Church of Christ, Scientist

In Person and Online Church Services

All are welcome & warmly invited to join these healing services

For best audio results, please join by clicking on the link from your computer or smartphone and choose “Call Over Internet”

All Zoom Services Meeting ID: 418 806 2637

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4188062637

Sunday Services 11:00am – 12noon Pacific

Wednesday Testimonies 7:30pm – 8:30pm Pacific

Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons

Our weekly Bible Lesson Sermon may be found here:

https://quarterly.christianscience.com/

Additional Healing Resources: ChristianScience.com CSWashington.com SeattleMetroReadingRoom.org

For additional assistance, please contact us at seattle12cs@gmail.com or 206.283.2300

ChristianScienceTwelfthSeattle.com

For a Healthier You

CHIROPRACTORS

National Touring Company of ‘Ain’t Too Proud,’

‘Ain’t Too Proud – e Life and Times of the Temptations’ comes to Paramount eatre

Courtesy Paramount eatre

Premera Blue Cross Broadway at e Paramount and the producers of the Broadway smash hit musical “Ain’t Too Proud – e Life and Times of the Temptations” welcome the show to Seattle’s Paramount eatre from Jan. 24 through Feb. 5. ( ere are no shows on Tuesday, Jan 31 and Wednesday, Feb. 1)

Tickets are available now on-line at STGPresents. org, Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-982-2787 or in person at e Paramount eatre Box O ce (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday).

DENTISTS

Queen Anne Dental Group

Dr. Frank J. Calvo & Family

Cosmetic, Implant, & General Dentistry

400 Boston St. 206-284-7812 www.QADG.net

Chiropractic

AND Massage Therapy

DEADLINES

News Submissions |

Wednesday, Noon 206-461-1300 or QAMagNews@pacificpublishingcompany.com

Retail Display Advertising |

Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. Tammy Knaggs, 253-254-4972 or ppcadmanager@pacificpublishingcompany.com

Legal Advertising |

Friday, noon

Jody Vinson, 206-461-1300, ext. 4 legalads@pacificpublishingcompany.com

Classified Advertising |

Friday, noon 206-461-1300 or class@pacificpublishingcompany.com

Leading the cast as e Temptations are Jalen Harris as ‘Eddie Kendricks,’ Harrell Holmes Jr. as ‘Melvin Franklin,’ E. Clayton Cornelious as ‘Paul Williams, Michael Andreaus as ‘Otis Williams,’ and Elijah Ahmad Lewis as ‘David Ru n.’ e touring company also features Brian C. Binion, Reed Campbell, Felander, Shayla Brielle G., Melvin Gray Jr., Quiana Onrae’l Holmes, Devin Holloway, Jeremy Kelsey , Traci Elaine Lee, Brett Michael Lockley, Omar Madden, Dwayne P. Mitchell , Devin Price, Amber Mariah Talley, Jamari Johnson Williams, Andrew Volzer, and Nazarria Workman.

Seattle Opera announces 60th anniversary season

Courtesy Seattle Opera

Darrell Gibson, D.C. • Sarah Gibson, D.C. Graeme Gibson, D.C.

David E. Goodall III, LMT

Sarah Rose Nottingham, LMT

Lauren E. Traynor, LMT

SERVING THE FAMILIES OF QUEEN ANN E SINCE 1991 1905 Queen Anne Ave N • 206.282.8275 www.QueenAnneChiro.com

Seattle Opera has released the lineup of artists and repertoire for Seattle Opera’s 2023/24 season, which celebrates the company’s 60th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Seattle Opera o ers a range of titles spanning nearly all of opera’s history, from the eighteenth century to the 1980s. From intimate character portrayals to fantasy epics, the season features works never before seen in Seattle (Alcina, X: e Life and Times of Malcolm X) alongside enduring favorites (Das Rheingold, e Barber of Seville). A roster of some of opera’s most celebrated creators, including more than 20 company debuts, will bring these stories to life.

In homage to Seattle Opera’s long Wagner tradition, the season opens with director Brian Staufenbiel’s eye-catching new production of Das Rheingold (August 12–20, 2023, at McCaw Hall).

new American opera, Seattle Opera next presents X: e Life and Times of Malcolm X (February 24–March 9, 2024, at McCaw Hall).

Rounding out the season is one of opera’s most beloved and enduring comedies, Gioachino Rossini’s e Barber of Seville (May 4–18, 2024, at McCaw Hall).

Finally, Seattle Opera punctuates its landmark season with a celebratory 60th Anniversary Concert & Gala (May 11, 2024, at McCaw Hall). Featuring performances by the Seattle Opera Chorus, Seattle Symphony, and an exciting cast of international soloists, this one-of-akind event will celebrate the legacy of opera in Seattle and look forward to many decades to come. Tickets go on sale later in 2023.

Performance information

Das Rheingold |Music and libretto by Richard Wagner

August 12, 16, 18, & 20, 2023

Music by Anthony Davis, libretto by ulani Davis, story by Christopher Davis

February 24 & 25, March 1, 3, 6, & 9, 2024

McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109) seattleopera.org/x

e Barber of Seville

Music by Gioachino Rossini, libretto by Cesare Sterbini

May 4, 5, 10, 12, 15, & 18, 2024

McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109) seattleopera.org/barber

60th Anniversary Concert & Gala

May 11, 2024

McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109)

About Seattle Opera

STAFF

Editor: Jessica Keller, 206-461-1300, ext. 3

Subscriber Services | Circulation: Christina Hill, 206-461-1300

e season continues with George Frideric Handel’s magical Alcina (October 14–28, 2023, at McCaw Hall), which appears for the rst time on the Seattle Opera stage. Based on Ludovico Ariosto’s epic poem Orlando furioso, Alcina tells the tale of a powerful sorceress who lures men to her enchanted island.

For the holiday season, Seattle Opera presents a new Holiday Chorus Concert (December 8–10, 2023, at Tagney Jones Hall) featuring the Seattle Opera Chorus. is program of seasonal tunes and hidden gems from the opera repertoire will showcase the chorus’s broad stylistic range. Continuing its commitment to

McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109) seattleopera.org/rheingold

Alcina

Music by George Frideric Handel, libretto by an unidenti ed poet

October 14, 15, 20, 22, 25, & 28, 2023

McCaw Hall (321 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109) seattleopera.org/alcina

Holiday Chorus Concert

December 8, 9, & 10, 2023

Tagney Jones Hall at the Opera Center (363 Mercer St, Seattle, WA 98109)

X: e Life and Times of Malcolm X

Established in 1963, Seattle Opera is committed to serving the people of the Paci c Northwest through music, storytelling, and programs for people of all ages. Each year, more than 80,000 people attend the company’s performances, and more than 100,000 people are served through school performances, radio broadcasts, and more. e organization brings opera to life in a number of di erent ways, o ering artistic excellence through national and international collaborations. Seattle Opera strives to create an environment where artists, sta , behind-thescenes workers, and members of the community feel a strong connection to the company, and to the art of opera. Follow Seattle Opera on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, and on Classical KING FM 98.1.

Photo by Emilio Madrid

e

which premieres at Paramount eatre Jan. 24 through Feb. 5.

Weekend closure of Mercer Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 in Seattle planned for Jan. 20-23

Courtesy WSDOT

Drivers heading to events in the downtown Seattle area will need to prepare for the potential of a planned weekend-long full closure of the Mercer Street on-ramp to northbound Interstate 5 and the express lanes.

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation plan to close the Mercer Street on-ramp to north-

bound I-5 beginning at 9 p.m. Friday through 4 a.m. Monday. Detours will be in place.

Tra c after Kraken game on Saturday

Because of a Seattle Kraken hockey game on Saturday, crews will reopen the on-ramp for three hours following the conclusion of the game to allow for tra c to make its way out of the area. Drivers should be aware there could be steel plates on the ramp and drive

with caution.

Crews will be doing utility and drainage work and concrete structure demolition in the area.

Stay up to date

People can get real-time tra c information from the WSDOT app, wsdot.wa.gov/inform/ mobile.htm, following social media, twitter. com/wsdot_520, and learn more by visiting the SR 520 Construction Corner webpage, www.

sr520construction.com/ConstructionMap. People can also call or text the 24-hour hotline at 206-316-2559.

is work is part of the SR 520/I-5 Express Lanes Connection Project. Crews are building a dedicated, reversible transit and carpool lane connecting the express lanes to SR 520 in addition to a reversible transit/carpool ramp at the I-5/Mercer Street interchange. Work is expected to be complete in 2024.

FROM TINY ACORNS GROW …

“Ah, the mighty oak!”

Tree Talk

By Steve Lorton

I literally uttered these words aloud, strolling alone, on the north end of McGilvra Boulevard East. ere it stood, nearing 100 feet in height, a perfect specimen of the pin oak (Quercus palustris). I have passed this tree hundreds of times. e di erence was that it was lea ess on that recent day. e structure, the stature, the power of the tree stood out in naked splendor. It was not unlike rounding the corner of the Accademia in Florence and looking down the hall to see Michelangelo’s David for the rst time (a memorable moment that made my wife burst into tears). No hyperbole here, that oak on that day was equally moving to me.

Pin oak is, according to the American Nursery Association, the most widely planted shade and street tree in the United States. e genus it comes from is vast — over 500 species. e variations are many, from towering hardwood timber trees, picturesque broad-leafed evergreens (often dripping with Spanish moss), to decorative shrubs. All are native to the Northern hemisphere; all produce acorns.

Pin oak is native to North America, covering a wide range from central North Carolina up to southern Ontario, out to western Kansas and northwestern Oklahoma. It is considered a valuable lumber tree, its strong wood famous for ooring and furniture. It’s perfectly suited for our climate and prefers acidic soil. With a mature spread of up to 40 feet, the tree needs space, but planted on the south or west side of a house it provides privacy, summer shade, and then defoliates to let in warming winter sunlight.

Around the world and throughout history, oaks have often been great supporting characters in the drama of life. A symbol of strength and stability, they are mentioned in Exodus, Ezekiel, Isaiah and in Genesis, where Abraham, sitting under an oak, was greeted by God and two angels disguised as travelers, to whom he gave hospitality. Aristotle is translated as saying, “Each human being is bred with a unique set of potentials that yearn to be ful lled as surely as the acorn yearns to become the oak.” Point being, here, that oaks have stood as symbols for the best in human nature. Who did not hear an elementary school teacher admonish, “You must be strong as an oak!”

In England, Druids believed that the oak tree is host to the strength and energy of their gods. To catch a falling oak leaf brought prosperity and good fortune. e Celtic for oak is “Duir,” from which came

the world Druid.

If myth is to be believed, Robin Hood’s merry band climbed oaks to wait in ambush for the Sheri of Nottingham and his men. Sherwood Forest boasts English oaks that predate William the Conqueror (1066 AD). It was under an oak at Hat eld Palace in 1558 that Elizabeth I was told that she was queen upon the death of her half sister Mary. Shakespeare references oaks 36 times in plays.

In Irish mythology, the oak symbolizes truth, courage and wisdom.

e oak is the national tree of Germany. Ancient Germanic tribes held their tribal councils under oak trees. Germania wears a crown of oak leaves, symbolizing heroism.

In America, St. Martinville, Louisiana’s Evangeline Oak is a tourist attraction. It was here that Evangeline and Gabriel reunited in Longfellow’s epic poem about the Arcadian Exile of 1755. e poem represented a momentous historic incident, and the pair of lovers are believed to be based on actual people who found each other under that oak. Near Bloomington, Illinois, Lincoln delivered several speeches between 1855 and 1860 standing under an oak. In 1976, that tree died but was replaced in 1980.

e American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson used the oak in metaphor, promoting the belief of mid-19th century Transcendentalism that there is inherent goodness in humankind and nature: “ e creating of a thousand forests is in one acorn.”

To reiterate: Oaks gure into our culture and have consistently been used to articulate the strength and stability and the best virtues within each of us. eir nuts feed over 100 species of vertebrate wildlife.

e limbs and cavities house birds and a host of other animals and insects. e leaves, bark and roots are home to innumerable organisms. eir roots stabilize soil, the foliage produces oxygen … the list, not uncommon to many natural things, goes on and on.

Raw acorns contain tannins, making them bitter tasting, if not dangerous to eat, but by leaching these nuts, the tannin can be extracted. e Miwok people, native to Northern California, foraged acorns as a substantial part of their diet. ey were stored and eaten year around, most often ground up into our with a stone mortar and pestle, then baked into bread in earthen ovens. A Miwok family consumed between 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of acorns each year.

Apropos of Emerson’s quote, oaks are extremely easy to propagate. Ask any squirrel. ese critters collect

the acorns, often burying them to eat later in winter. Often, the stored acorns go unearthed and sprout. If you want to start an oak from seed, put ve or six acorns (seed caps removed) in a large pot of sterile soil, where foraging animals can’t get them. You may want to cover the top of the pot with chicken wire. Squirrels and birds are resourceful and, if they think food is there, they’ll dig into a garden container. By the spring following the autumn in which you gathered the acorns, you’ll be surprised by the number that sprout. Let them go for a year or two, then, in late February, when the seedlings are still dormant, transplant them into much larger pots or directly into the ground. Water the plants liberally for the rst two or three summers, then turn the job over to nature. irty years ago, my son and I planted an oak seedling at our house in the upper Skagit Valley. It was grown from an acorn picked up in Koblenz, Germany, under a tree at the point of land where the Moselle River empties into the Rhine. at tree is now well over 20 feet tall and a living reminder of family adventures, steadfast values and love of nature.

Well, there I stood, on a cold winter day, looking up at the magni cent, lea ess oak you see pictured. Enamored of that plant as a horticultural specimen, the sight also stirred my intellect. Why had the genus oak gured so prominently into so many cultures? Such moments always take me into the past and then, unexpectedly, propel me into thoughts of the future. So, here we are, the new year is upon us. ’Tis time to make a wish, methinks … something universal, something with the best of us in it, something oak-like.

OK, I wish that each of our readers would nd an acorn to plant with a child. Tell the stories, the history, the myths, explain the gardening process. Watch, over the next couple of years, as the seedling gets up and going. en go, together, and plant it in the ground. ere’s much more to it than just another tree in a world in need of reforestation. You’ll be teaching gardening skills, cementing the notion that trees can be cultivated relatively easily, all in the process of sustaining nature. You’ll be instilling the message of strength, stability, farsightedness, all of which will root and ourish in the child’s mind as the years march on. ere will be a living reminder of all that, scattering other acorns to collect, other trees to propagate. e bene ts are innumerable. So it goes: Great oaks from tiny acorns grow.   Happy New Year!

According to the American Nursery Association, pin oak is the most widely planted shade and street tree in the United States. It’s perfectly suited for our climate and prefers acidic soil. With a mature spread of up to 40 feet, the tree needs space, but planted on the south or west side of a house it provides privacy, summer shade, and then defoliates to let in warming winter sunlight.

Photo by Mary Henry

LEGISLATURE, FROM PAGE

SLOW COOKING CREATES FREE TIME

Who couldn’t use a little more free time in his or her day? Slow cookers can create that by enabling home chefs to set their ingredients to simmer early in the day and then head to work, school, recreational activities — pretty much whatever they need to get done — as the food cooks. Not being beholden to the kitchen is a bene t slow cookers o er.

Since slow cookers cook foods slowly at low temperatures, they are quite handy and even can help people save money. Tougher cuts of meat

& Energy and Transportation committees.

Berry said one of her top priorities continues to be gun control legislation. Last session legislation she worked on included banning high-capacity magazines; eliminating untraceable “ghost guns”; and prohibiting armed intimidation in the democratic process. is session she is working on measures that will: ban the sale of assault weapons; require a permit to purchase a rearm to include a comprehensive background check, safety training and 10-day waiting period; and hold the gun industry accountable by allowing lawsuits to be brought against companies in response to shootings.

“Gun violence is now the No. 1 cause of death for children in our country,” she said. “As a mother, this is devastating to me.”

As part of her work on the Environment

or poultry tend to cost a little less, and they can be cooked to perfection in the slow cooker. e long, moist cooking environment tenderizes the ingredients during the cooking process.

Stews and slow cookers often go hand-in-hand. Enjoy this recipe for “Chicken Stew with Herb Dumplings” from “Crock*Pot® 365 Year-Round Recipes” (Publications International, Ltd.) by the Crock*Pot Test Kitchen.

Chicken Stew with Herb Dumplings

Makes 4 servings

2 cups sliced carrots

1 cup chopped onion

1 large green bell pepper, sliced ½ cup sliced celery

2 cans (about 14 ounces each)

& Energy Committee, she will introduce the WRAP Act, House Bill 1131, a plan to curb the amount of recyclable materials going to land lls and expand recycling services to more households. She said one piece of the legislation, which she is introducing with Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island), is to require producers to be responsible for disposing of their waste products, such as Styrofoam shells used in packing.

Her last priority is to launch a statewide guaranteed basic income pilot program, HB 1045, the Evergreen Basic Income Pilot Program, to reduce poverty in the state.

In her newsletter, she wrote that a guaranteed basic income program “is a smarter, more compassionate, and less expensive way to give people basic help” and can be funded through revenue generated through some of the other taxing measures being proposed this session.

Reed is the vice chair of the Postsecondary Education & Workforce committee and a

chicken broth, divided

2/3 cup all-purpose our

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken

breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 large red potato, unpeeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

6 ounces mushrooms, halved

¾ cup frozen peas

1 ¼ teaspoons dried basil, divided

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

3/8 teaspoon dried tarragon, divided

¼ cup heavy cream

¾ to 1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 cup biscuit baking mix

1/3 cup reduced-fat (2%) milk

1. Combine carrots, onion, bell pepper, celery and all but 1 cup chicken broth in the slow cooker.

member of the Capital Budget and Housing committees.

“I just wrapped up my rst week in Olympia, and it felt like a year. It was great,” Reed said.

She said that, while she came in with so many ideas of all the things she wanted to accomplish and the legislation she wanted to introduce, she quickly learned the reality of Olympia is “you’ve just jumped aboard a moving train that’s hurtling down the tracks.”

She said, at least at rst, she will focus on legislation already in the works that she supports and advocating for the issues her constituents care about.

at said, she has already introduced a few bills. e rst supports mental health therapies by creating a pathway to licensing for music therapists. Only Seattle Paci c University has a music therapy program where graduates become certi ed. Otherwise, someone who receives music therapy has no way to tell how

Metro Creative Connection

Cover; cook on low 2 hours.

2. Stir remaining 1 cup chicken broth into our in small bowl until smooth. Stir into vegetable mixture. Add chicken, potato, mushrooms, peas, 1 teaspoon basil, 3/4 teaspoon rosemary and 1/4 teaspoon tarragon. Cover; cook on low 4 hours or until vegetables and chicken are tender. Stir in cream, salt and pepper.

3. Combine baking mix, remaining 1/4 teaspoon basil, 1/4 teaspoon rosemary and 1/8 teaspoon tarragon in small bowl. Stir in milk to form soft dough. Add dumpling mixture to top of stew in 4 large spoonfuls. Cook, uncovered, 30 minutes. Cover; cook 30 to 45 minutes or until dumplings are rm and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve in shallow bowls.

quali ed their music therapist is or their insurances won’t pay for them to receive it.

Another bill ensures the Washington Opportunity Scholarship program can continue assisting low and middle-income students to earn their degrees and credentials.

e last bill reasserts an employee’s right to their workplace personnel records.

At the end of the meeting the legislators invited constituents to reach out to them with ideas or concerns and visit their respective webpages for more information.

Frame can be reached at Noel.Frame@leg. wa.gov. To email Berry, go to https://app.leg. wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/36/2. Reed can be emailed at https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/36/1.

LOCAL AGENTS with a Queen Anne + Magnolia Focus

Photo by Metro Creative

Slow cooker chicken stew is the perfect winter meal.

Sharabi and many others are trying to change that, however.

For Advocacy Day, last week, Sharabi and other Parent Ambassadors travelled to Olympia to meet with their lawmakers and advocate for change. It comes at the end of the year-long training program for ambassadors.

Joel Ryan, the executive director of Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP, works on the advocacy training with the volunteers.

“My favorite part of Parent Ambassadors is seeing parents learn that they have power and can use it to change things for themselves and their families for the better,” Ryan said.

According to the website, the WSA Parent Ambassador Program includes training on communications, leadership, legislative advocacy, racial equity and social justice, nancial literacy and grassroots organizing. Ryan noted that some of the program’s past successes have included doubling the number of children served in ECEAP, stabilizing childcare for families and helping to make childcare subsidies more accessible for parents who are students. Parent Ambassadors also receive 16 college credits for completing the program.

Sharabi recalls a time when sharing her story publicly would

not have been possible, but the Parent Ambassador program helped her nd her voice.

“On behalf of my 6-year-old, I am her voice in this world,” Sharabi said. She is autistic and if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be a Parent Ambassador.”

She rst heard about the program from a friend who had also been a Parent Ambassador.

Sharabi said she enjoyed meeting new people and found it empowering to learn to advocate for herself, her family and her community.

“ e magic of Parent Ambassadors is di cult to explain,” said April Messenger, who works alongside Ryan as the director of Family Engagement & Advocacy. “Helping parents nd their

voice and harness their power is incredibly meaningful.”

What started in 2009 as a small group of ECEAP parents has expanded to include any parent with children under age 8. is year, a cohort of 40 new volunteers is expected.

roughout the year, they meet in twice monthly Zoom calls, and each quarter, they have a

face-to-face meeting. Conference highlights have included meeting and hearing from local and state leaders, crafting a letter to the editor, workshops with nancial advisers and award-winning authors, and unstructured to time to bond with other parents. e nal meeting of the year is for the Advocacy Day at the Capitol Building in Olympia when the legislators are back in session. is year, Sharabi met with two of the lawmakers from the 36th Legislative District: Sen. Noel Frame and Rep. Liz Berry. “In the rst meeting, I felt shy and nervous,” Sharabi said. “By the second meeting, I felt braver and more comfortable, and I just kept talking.”

Berry said she was inspired by Sharabi’s story of overcoming obstacles to get the care her daughter needs and deserves.

“As a mom of young kids and as a legislator, I am determined to fund critical ECEAP services so that every child gets a strong start,” she said. Fellow District 36 Rep. Julia Reed agreed. She said she was “committed to ensuring that our early learning teachers are well paid for the essential work that they perform.”

Sharabi is hopeful that Gov. Jay Inslee’s budget will expand ECEAP and includes a proposed increase for teacher salaries. Her daughter has been on a waitlist for therapy for more than three years.

Photo courtesy Tamara Sharabi

Danna Summers, from left, a former Parent Ambassador, Parent Ambassador Tamara Sharabi and District 36 state Rep. Liz Berry stand outside Berry’s o ce on Advocacy Day, ursday. Parent Ambassadors aim to use the collective power of their voices to help make changes for the better.

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